Improvement in apparatus for roasting gold and silver ores



RH'MQFRYER;

APPARATUS FOR RO'ASTING GOLD AND SILVER ORES. Y No.170,6Z5. Patented.Nov. 30, 1875.

HNVEZNTQIRLU N. PETERS, FHOTU-LITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON. D C.

' UNITED STATES ROBERT M. FRYER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THEFBYER NOBLE PATENT OFFICE.

METAL-MINING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT lN APPARATUS FOR ROASTING GOLD AND SILVER ORES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 170,625, dated November30, 1875; application filed May 20, 1875.

CASE B.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT M. FRYER, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a Roasting Apparatus for Gold and Silver Ores,of which the following is a specification:

The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus by means ofwhich gold and silver ores can be cheaply and rapidly roasted to expelsulphur, &c., without the loss of the precious metals by volatilizationand absorption,hence rendering it practical to work the most refractoryores, though of comparatively low grade.

The apparatus consists of a metallic furnace surrounded with awater-chamber, constituting a steam-boiler, at the top of which is acondensing device, whereby the products of combustion are so treated asto separate the auriferous and other noble metallic vapors. I will,however, begin at once with the general description, having reference tothe accompanyin g drawing, which represents a vertical section of theentireapparatus, with letters of reference marked on the several partscorresponding with similarletters used in their description.

A is the furnace, which is suspended to leave the bottom B free. Thesaid bottom consists of a double metallic tub mounted upon wheels 0,fitting track D leading to other apparatus. The said track at this pointis located upon a drop-table to permit of-being lowered to clear thebottom of furnace. The said bottom B, or car, as it may be called, isprovided between the double casings with water to prevent rapidoxidation. The furnace A is composed of two casings, M and E. Between isa waterspace, as shown, which keeps the shells cool, besides furnishingsteam (during one portion of the following operation) to operate,through pipe L, a steam-blower, F, located in the stack G. Underneathsaid blower is located acone, P, upon which runs a stream of water,which flows through pipe H. From the cone the water falls into theannular chamber I, from which, through the overflow-pipe J, it flows toany desired reservoir. The object of this device is to bring theproducts of combustion in their upward ascent, indicated by arrow K,directly in contact with water to arrest the volatile precious metalscarried up with said products. R. is the door, through which the furnaceA is charged with fuel and other material.

The operation of. the apparatus is as follows: Fuel and quartz areplaced in the furnace and the former ignited. Steam is soon generated,the blower set in operation, when the draft is greatly increased. Whenthe heat becomes very intense water is applied to the cone, as abovedescribed. The result of the charge is that some of the precious metalsare collected at the chamber I, while .the greater portion is deliveredat the bottom or car B with desulphurized quartz. The said car is thenlowered to clear the bottom of the furnace, and then run along the trackto a proper delivery, where the material is deposited for furthertreatment. The car is returned to its original position, when thefurnace is again ready for operation.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is-

The combination of furnace A, portable bottom B, conical condenser andchamber I, substantially as described and operated, for the purposeabove set forth.

' ROBT. M. FRYER.'

Witnesses:

B0121 L. S. HALL, T. OMEARA.

